Emeritus Professor Geoffrey Lawrence
Emeritus Professor

Geoffrey Lawrence

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Background

Geoff is a leading Australian sociologist with interests in rural and regional sociology, globalisation/localisation and agrifood research.

He attended James Ruse Agricultural High School in Sydney and was School Captain in 1968. He then completed a degree in agricultural economics at Sydney University in 1972. This was followed by a diploma in social science (UNE), Master of Science in Sociology (Wisconisn-Madison) and a PhD (Griffith). In 1992 he became Associate Professor of Sociology and Foundation Director, Centre for Rural Social Research, at Charles Sturt University before moving later that year to Central Queensland University as Foundation Professor of Sociology (1992-2002) and Executive Director, Institute for Sustainable Regional Development (1998-2002). He joined The University of Queensland as Professor of Sociology and Head of the School of Social Science in 2002. He is a Life Member of the Fitzroy Basin Association, a Fellow of the Academy of Social Sciences in Australia, Life Member of the Australian Sociological Association, and was President of the International Rural Sociology Association (2012-2016). He became Emeritus Professor of Sociology at the University of Queensland in 2014.

His full profile can be seen at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geoffrey_Lawrence_(sociologist)

Availability

Emeritus Professor Geoffrey Lawrence is:
Available for supervision
Media expert

Fields of research

Sociology

Qualifications

  • Bachelor of Science, University of Sydney
  • Postgraduate Diploma, University of New England Australia
  • Masters (Coursework) of Science, University of Wisconsin
  • Doctor of Philosophy, Griffith University

Research interests

  • Agriculture, the Environment and the Politics of Sustainability

    The questions are: To what extent is 'greening' and green politics influencing the course of agricultural development and resulting in policies aimed at reducing ecological destruction? What is the nature of the debates and theorisations regarding productivism/post-productivism in the rural landscapes of advance economies? In a practical sense, how is it possible to ensure that current and future natural resource management will provide sustainable outcomes for society?

  • Globalisation, Localisation and Restructuring of Regional Australia

    This is a broad area whcih includes an examination of the social affects of economic change upon regions and highlights town decline, poverty, unemployment and ill-health - as well as the 'ingredients' for successful community development and the enhancement of social capital. Issues of empowerment and governance are crucial to the understanding of the future of the regions. The issue of global/local relations is also of significance - particularly as Australian governments seek to promote 'self help' and 'partnership' options.

  • Financialisation of Food and Farming

    Finance capital is playing an increasingly important role in food and farming industries. Entities like merchant banks, sovereign wealth funds, private equity firms and hedge funds are purchasing farmlands and agribusinesses in an effort to increase returns to shareholders. However, some of these activities are speculative and lead to food price distortions; others impact upon traditional owners when so-called 'land grabs' force producers from their farms. 'Financialisation' is seen as being as important as globalisation and neoliberalism in altering the face of food and farming.

Search Professor Geoffrey Lawrence’s works on UQ eSpace

532 works between 1980 and 2022
All (532) Journal Article (163) Book Chapter (110) Conference Publication (218) Book (28) Other Outputs (9) Edited Outputs (4)

421 - 440 of 532 works

1994

Conference Publication

Is Australian agriculture post-Fordist?

Lawrence, G. (1994). Is Australian agriculture post-Fordist?. 2nd Conference of the Australasian Agri-food Research Network, Brisbane, Australia, 2-3 April 1994.

Is Australian agriculture post-Fordist?

1994

Conference Publication

Recent theoretical insights from studies of global agri-food restructuring

Lawrence, G. (1994). Recent theoretical insights from studies of global agri-food restructuring. 2nd Conference of the Australasian Agri-food Research Network, Sydney, Australia, 12-13 November 1994.

Recent theoretical insights from studies of global agri-food restructuring

1994

Journal Article

Rural adjustment revisited: In defence of a sociological approach

Lawrence, Geoffrey (1994). Rural adjustment revisited: In defence of a sociological approach. Rural Society: the journal of research into rural and regional social issues in Australia, 4 (3-4), 11-16. doi: 10.5172/rsj.4.3-4.11

Rural adjustment revisited: In defence of a sociological approach

1994

Journal Article

The National Rural Health Unit: promise and problems

Lawrence, G. (1994). The National Rural Health Unit: promise and problems. Regional Journal of Social Issues, 28.

The National Rural Health Unit: promise and problems

1994

Journal Article

Education policy and the Australian rural economy

Share, Perry, Lawrence, Geoffrey and Boylan, Colin (1994). Education policy and the Australian rural economy. Journal of Research in Rural Education, 10 (1), 58-67.

Education policy and the Australian rural economy

1994

Book Chapter

Agricultural change in the semi-periphery: the Murray Darling Basin, Australia

Lawrence, G. and Vanclay, F. (1994). Agricultural change in the semi-periphery: the Murray Darling Basin, Australia. The global restructuring of agro-food systems. (pp. 76-103) edited by P. McMichael. Ithaca, NY, United States: Cornell University Press.

Agricultural change in the semi-periphery: the Murray Darling Basin, Australia

1994

Conference Publication

Science, scientists and biotechnology: public and private research in Australia

Vanclay, F. and Lawrence, G. (1994). Science, scientists and biotechnology: public and private research in Australia. XIII World Congress of Sociology, Bielefeld, Germany, 18-23 July 1994.

Science, scientists and biotechnology: public and private research in Australia

1994

Conference Publication

Rural restructuring: sociological meaning, social impacts and policy implications

Hungerford, L. and Lawrence, G. (1994). Rural restructuring: sociological meaning, social impacts and policy implications. International Conference on Issues Affecting Rural Communities, Townsville, QLD, Australia, 10-15 July 1994. Townsville, QLD, Australia: James Cook University.

Rural restructuring: sociological meaning, social impacts and policy implications

1993

Journal Article

Biotechnology in Australian agriculture: the views of farmer representatives

Lawrence, Geoffrey, McKenzie, Helen and Vanclay, Frank (1993). Biotechnology in Australian agriculture: the views of farmer representatives. Prometheus (Abingdon), 11 (2), 234-251. doi: 10.1080/08109029308629356

Biotechnology in Australian agriculture: the views of farmer representatives

1993

Journal Article

Review of Conservation and development issues in North Australia

Lawrence, Geoffrey (1993). Review of Conservation and development issues in North Australia. Journal of Rural Studies, 9 (2), 197-198. doi: 10.1016/0743-0167(93)90041-h

Review of Conservation and development issues in North Australia

1993

Journal Article

Environmental and social consequences of economic restructuring in Australian agriculture

Vanclay, F. and Lawrence, G. (1993). Environmental and social consequences of economic restructuring in Australian agriculture. International Journal of Sociology of Food and Agriculture, 3.

Environmental and social consequences of economic restructuring in Australian agriculture

1993

Book Chapter

Rural Australia

Lawrence, G., Gray, I. and Share, P. (1993). Rural Australia. A Sociology of Australian Society: Introductory Readings. (pp. 554-583) edited by Jake Najman and John S. Western. Melbourne, VIC, Australia: Macmillan.

Rural Australia

1993

Journal Article

Globalisation and Australian sport

McKay, J., Lawrence, G., Miller, T. and Rowe, D. (1993). Globalisation and Australian sport. Sport Science Review, 2 (1), 10-28.

Globalisation and Australian sport

1993

Conference Publication

Personal and social consequences of the rural crisis

Gray, I. and Lawrence, G. (1993). Personal and social consequences of the rural crisis. Annual Conference of the National Association of Loss and Grief, Yeppoon, QLD, Australia, 7-10 September 1990. Rockhampton, QLD, Australia: National Association of Loss and Grief.

Personal and social consequences of the rural crisis

1993

Conference Publication

Rural restructuring and community change: issues, problems and policy directions in Australia

Lawrence, G. (1993). Rural restructuring and community change: issues, problems and policy directions in Australia. National Rural and Remote Youth Affairs Conference, Wagga Wagga, NSW, Australia, 27-29 April 1993.

Rural restructuring and community change: issues, problems and policy directions in Australia

1993

Conference Publication

Farm coping strategies: some sociological analysis

Gray, I. and Lawrence, G. (1993). Farm coping strategies: some sociological analysis. Conference on Water Resource Management, Griffith, NSW, Australia, 9-10 July 1993. Griffith, NSW, Australia: CSIRO.

Farm coping strategies: some sociological analysis

1993

Conference Publication

Community ownership and change: problems and opportunities

Lawrence, G. (1993). Community ownership and change: problems and opportunities. DPIE Workshop on Socio-economic Issues and Research Needs in the Murray-Darling Basin, Melbourne, Vic, Australia, 17-18 November 1992. Adelaide, SA, Australia: South Australian Department of Primary Industies.

Community ownership and change: problems and opportunities

1993

Conference Publication

Agriculture and biotechnology: prospects for sustainability

Lawrence, G. (1993). Agriculture and biotechnology: prospects for sustainability. Ecopolitics VII Conference, Brisbane, QLD, Australia, 2-4 July 1993. Brisbane, QLD, Australia:

Agriculture and biotechnology: prospects for sustainability

1993

Conference Publication

Some implications of agricultural restructuring for farm families

Gray, I. and Lawrence, G. (1993). Some implications of agricultural restructuring for farm families. Annual Conference of the Australian Sociological Association, Sydney, Australia, 12-15 December 1993.

Some implications of agricultural restructuring for farm families

1993

Book

Coping with change: Australian farmers in the 1990s

Gray, Ian W. , Lawrence, Geoffrey and Dunn, Tony (1993). Coping with change: Australian farmers in the 1990s. Wagga Wagga, N.S.W., Australia: Centre for Rural Social Research, Charles Sturt University.

Coping with change: Australian farmers in the 1990s

Past funding

  • 2016 - 2021
    Food, Farming and Financialisation: Agri-food Transformations in Australia
    ARC Discovery Projects
    Open grant
  • 2015 - 2019
    Frogs, fuel, finance or food? Cultures, values, ethics, arguments and justifications in the management of agricultural land (FORFOOD)
    Centre for Rural Research
    Open grant
  • 2012 - 2014
    Governing Food Security in Australia in an Era of Climate Change: A Sociological Analysis
    ARC Discovery Projects
    Open grant
  • 2011 - 2015
    The New Farm Owners: Finance Companies and the Restructuring of Australian and Global Agriculture
    ARC Discovery Projects
    Open grant
  • 2009 - 2011
    Local government, mining companies and resources development in regional Australia: meeting the governance challenge
    ARC Linkage Projects
    Open grant
  • 2009 - 2011
    Globally Engaged? Responses to Neoliberal Globalisation among Family Farmers in Australia
    ARC Discovery Projects
    Open grant
  • 2008
    Review of the Community Futures Task Force (Stage 1)
    Community Futures Task Force Unit
    Open grant
  • 2007 - 2011
    From Seedling to Supermarket: The Social and Environmental Implications for Australia of the Restructuring of Agri-food Supply Chains
    ARC Discovery Projects
    Open grant
  • 2005 - 2009
    ARC Research Network in Spatially Integrated Social Science
    ARC Research Networks
    Open grant
  • 2004 - 2006
    Organics, environment and sustainability
    Griffith University
    Open grant
  • 2004 - 2006
    Agri-food Applications of Genetically-Modified Organisms: Public Perceptions Risk and Sustainability
    ARC Discovery Projects
    Open grant
  • 2003 - 2006
    Building sustainable social capital in new communities.
    ARC Linkage Projects
    Open grant
  • 2003 - 2006
    Engaged government: a study of government-community engagement for regional outcomes
    Griffith University
    Open grant
  • 2003
    The social construct of safe foods: Uncertainty, risk and trust in agri-food applications of Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs)
    University of Queensland Research Development Grants Scheme
    Open grant
  • 2002 - 2003
    An Analysis of the Patterns of Consumption, Community Impacts and Returns on Investment of Rural Popular Cultural Activities
    UQ FirstLink Scheme
    Open grant
  • 2002 - 2006
    Governance, institutional capacity and regional planning: A Central Queensland case study.
    ARC Linkage Projects
    Open grant
  • 2002 - 2005
    Farmer adoption of sustainable land management practices in the Fitzroy Basin, Central Queensland.
    ARC Linkage Projects
    Open grant
  • 2001 - 2002
    The Sustainability of Australian Rural Communities
    Academy of Social Sciences
    Open grant

Availability

Emeritus Professor Geoffrey Lawrence is:
Available for supervision

Before you email them, read our advice on how to contact a supervisor.

Available projects

  • Students can be involved in work on ARC and other projects exploring:

    Structural change in agriculture; changes power relations along agri-food chains; the financialisation of food and farming.

Supervision history

Current supervision

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Climate Change in Rural Fiji: Reproduction, Erosion and Limitations of Social Resilience in Intercultural Domains

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Richard Martin, Dr Kim de Rijke

Completed supervision

Enquiries

Contact Emeritus Professor Geoffrey Lawrence directly for media enquiries about:

  • Agriculture - sociology
  • Financialisation
  • Food security
  • Globalisation
  • Neoliberalism
  • Rural Australia

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